Diana MALIVANI
The Great White Rabbit
An Illustrated Poem
Translated from Russian into English
by Mark Herman and Ronnie Apter
Illustrated by the Author
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An Illustrated Poem about the life of Great White Rabbit and his travels to Paris, Venice, Monte-Carlo, and Vienna!
For a little girl named Michelle
The Author would like to express her deep gratitude to her husband for his support and assistance with this book
Table of Contents
The Great White Rabbit
About the Author
Other books of the Author
Deep in the distant silent forest,
Far beyond a snow-capped peak,
There lived a Great White Rabbit,
Generous, kindly, fat and sleek.
He got along with every creature,
Befriended alike both great and small,
And because of his well-known wisdom,
He was beloved by one and all.
Throughout the reaches of the forest
The Rabbit was held in high esteem.
He lived in a luxurious mansion
Where taste and comfort reigned supreme.
He had built his big house by himself
Among the hazel-nut trees,
Under a large and ancient spruce,
And lived there at his ease.
There were three floors, all with terraces,
High ceilings of ornate design,
Vases filled to the brim with flowers,
And a cellar for his wine.
A fireplace graced the living room,
Big for a Rabbit who lived by himself,
And in the oaken dining room
Fine china decked each sideboard shelf.
Around the house he planted a garden
With trellises of many shapes.
Roses grew there, and peonies,
Jasmine and clusters of juicy grapes.
Of an evening he played the piano
And then from his splendid lair
The strains of the “Moonlight Sonata”
Resounded in the forest air…
When the cheerful fireplace crackled
And candles shed their flickering light,
The Rabbit welcomed his circle of friends
To his home for a merry night.
Not all his time is spent at home.
He's journeyed far and journeyed wide
To see each great metropolis,
His curiosity as his guide.
The Rabbit visited Monte Carlo
And joined the casino crowd at play.
Then he drove on to a ball in Venice
Where he hopped the night away.
The Cultured Rabbit loved museums;
The opera was one of his favorite haunts.
He strolled with his cane by the blue Danube
Through Vienna on leisurely jaunts.
He loved to read the news in the park,
And spent many happy days in the sun
Playing golf with some long-eared friends,
Hoping to score a hole in one.
Together with a lop-eared friend or two
He sometimes sat in the shade.
His friends paid close attention
To the wise remarks he made.
In winter he loved to ski in the Alps
Unafraid of any storm.
No matter how cold it was, the Rabbit
Trusted his coat to keep him warm.
His palate trained, he knew his wines
And only drank the very best.
Among the socialites of Paris,
He was always fashionably dressed.
Wearing a claret-colored vest,
On his paw a watch, a fine Breguet,
The Big-Eared Dandy drew all eyes
When he attended the ballet.
At times, returning late at night,
He would pour himself a glass of wine,
And sit beside a crackling fire…
“Ah, Rabbit! Life is fine!”
At Christmas there were special buns
And the fabulous Viennese Ball.
He hopped to the market to purchase a tree